The blog of the radio announcer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Various tidbits

The Marlins have another candidate to challenge for the left-handed bat off the bench role.

Greg Dobbs, who has spent the past four seasons with the Phillies,
has signed a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring
Training.

The 32-year-old also is a candidate to play either first or third
base. In 88 games with the Phillies last year, Dobbs batted .196 with
five homers and 15 RBIs.

Dobbs’ best seasons were in 2007 and 2008. In ’07, he batted .272
with 10 homers and 55 RBIs in 142 games. On Philadelphia’s 2008 World
Series title team, Dobbs appeared in 128 games and he belted nine homers
while driving in 40 runs. He batted .301 that season.

Dobbs has 292 career pinch-hit at-bats, and he has a .250 average in
that role. But last year, he struggled and was 6-for-49 as a
pinch-hitter.

Even Eddie Menchaca has gotten into the biggest news in Clinton over the past couple of weeks.

Menchaca, who will manage the Clinton LumberKings this season, came
into town over the weekend to speak at the Hot Stove Banquet and already
was making quips about Flavor Flav and his Flav’s Fried Chicken
restaurant.

“Ted, if I don’t do thing things you want me to, you can always bring
in Flavor Flav to manage the LumberKings,” Menchaca said to LumberKings
general manager, and 2010 Midwest League Executive of the Year, Ted
Tornow.

Menchaca, who turns 30 next Monday, is entering his second year as a
manager. Last season, he led Pulaski to the Appalachian League East
Division title in short-season A ball.

Menchaca is entering his 11th year in the Seattle Mariners organization
and fourth as a coach. In 6 1/2 seasons as a minor league player, he
hit .225 with 156 runs scored and 128 RBIs while playing mostly as a
middle infielder.

“I was like a sponge (as a player),” Menchaca said. “Every time a coach
was talking to me, I was taking notes. I’ve always been a young one,
but I was always the young one paying attention.”

Menchaca, the youngest of 14 siblings, played for the Wisconsin Timber
Rattlers (after he announced that, he booed) so he has some familiarity
with the Midwest League.

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